>>>>>>>>>>I'm working on a small MS Access to C# WinForms conversion project. I have to decide which database to use. The client will most likely want to take the data home, so SQL will not be an easy option.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>I could do it in Access, which he knows and I hate, or I could do it in VFP, which I know. It's going to be one of these two, as I'm not
>>>>>>>>>>interested in learning another DB at this point.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>I guess I'm just looking for thoughts....
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Why won't SQL be an easy option ? backup, restore at home. SQL Express is free.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>We're talking about someone who has never even HEARD of Sql. For us it;s a no brainer. To some people, an install wizard would panic them.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>He's already got to install my app. The database should be transparent.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>He should not have to know anything about SQL.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Your app can control all SQL functions.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>He would have to install it. And how would he take his data home? With a file based DB he can just copy it.
>>>>>
>>>>>He can detach and attach the files (through your C# interface. Or, he can access the data remotely through port 1433 or a custom port. Or he can access it thorugh SSRS. Or he can subcribe over the web. Or he could just create a backup and restore it...
>>>>>
>>>>>And.. his memo file won't be invalid. And his index won't be missing or corrupt. And his table won't be corrupt. And his data will be securable. And ...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Ok, I have decided on SQL Express. I can install it for him if needed.
>>>>
>>>>What I don't know is how to detach & reattach the data at a different location from within my C# app. Anyone wanna provide some input on this?
>>>>
>>>>What would also be nice is to have SQL Express installation as part of my app's install. Is this possible?
>>>
>>>For the detach & reattach this should help (it's really quite easy).
>>>http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/sqldataaccess/thread/3f296c2a-e5f8-470a-91c5-86daf98c7e2c
>>
>>I was just looking at this wite. When I try it, I get "Cannot detach the database 'mydb' because it is currently in use".
>>How do ensure the DB is not in use?
>
>ya that is a good question..hahaha. I don't know - the only times I've had to do it I knew no one else was using the database so I never had to deal with that problem...


Well here's the command:

ALTER DATABASE database_name SET OFFLINE WITH ROLLBACK IMMEDIATE

Then I used sp_detach_db and it worked fine. I was then able to use sp-attach_db and put it back. I'm happy